Get Reel: Happy, happy birthday 'American Graffiti'

Sunday

May 12, 2013 at 12:01 AMMay 12, 2013 at 12:09 PM

I will posit right now that "American Graffiti," which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, rates as one of the most significant films in cinematic history, if not cultural history in these United States.

Bob Tremblay/DAILY NEWS STAFF

I will posit right now that "American Graffiti," which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, rates as one of the most significant films in cinematic history, if not cultural history in these United States.

Why, you ask? Well, for starters, its director used its profits to make a little movie called "Star Wars." Sure, George Lucas may have been able to film that sci-fi classic even if "American Graffiti" had flopped at the box office. He just would have had to wait longer - but how much longer? And where would have the money come from? Another movie? He had trouble getting "Star Wars" made even with the box-office success of "American Graffiti."

But wait, there's more. In addition to the "Star Wars" connection, "American Graffiti" helped launch or boost the careers of its cast, including Richard Dreyfuss, who would later star in "Jaws," and Harrison Ford, who would later star in "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Perhaps you've seen those films. The careers of Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips, Candy Clark, Charles Martin Smith, Suzanne Somers and Paul Le Mat also benefited from "AG."

In addition, the film jump-started the career of Ron Howard, who at the time was best known for playing Opie on "The Andy Griffith Show." While the TV show "Happy Days" was already in development at the time of the film's release, the success of "American Graffiti" - and that fact that both the show and film featured Howard - didn't hurt its chances for finding air time in 1974.

"American Graffiti" clearly helped fuel a nostalgia craze for "happier days" and the popular TV show contributed to it. It also led to several spinoffs, including "Laverne & Shirley" and "Mork & Mindy." The former starred Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall. Ms. Marshall would later direct such films as "Big," starring Tom Hanks," and "A League of Their Own." The latter show catapulted the career of comedian Robin Williams. Howard, meanwhile, would later direct a slew of successful films, including "Apollo 13" and "A Beautiful Mind."

As with Lucas, these "AG" actors, as well as the thespians with a few degrees of separation from the film, would likely have had successful careers without the movie. But again, when?

While "Grease" was already a Broadway hit before "American Graffiti debuted, the film version wasn't made until 1978. While "Grease" hearkens back to the 195Os and "American Graffiti" takes place during the summer of 1962, "AG" has a 1950s feel, at least in terms of it existing during a more "innocent" time where teens worried about zits instead of Armageddon. Innocence would soon would be lost with the Cuban Missile Crisis later that year, the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963 and the escalation of the Vietnam War. So much for happy days.

The tag line for "AG" asks the question, "Where were you in '62?" For Lucas, who also co-wrote the film, it was northern California where he grew up in a place where cars were king. You raced in them, you cruised in them, you made out in them, you listened to rock 'n' roll in them. In "AG," the car can be seen as a metaphor of sorts as a vehicle that can take you somewhere or nowhere. You can drive out of town and start a new life or drive around in circles and stay stuck in the past. Or it can drive a desire. In "AG," one of the vignettes centers around a character's yearning to meet a blonde cruising around town in a Thunderbird.

As for rock 'n' roll, "AG" contains a killer soundtrack with music emanating from car radios and occasionally contributing to the action. For example, when one character is about to be accosted by thugs, we hear the Big Bopper croon "Hello, baby" from "Chantilly Lace." It's also interesting to note that this same character only realizes the car that he borrowed is missing when he doesn't hear any music coming from it. A deejay even plays a role in the film.

While set in 1962, "AG" addresses issues that teens still deal with today. For example, characters aren't sure what they're going to be doing with their lives after high school. Do they go away to college? Do they stay put to be with their high school sweetheart? Do they simply just stick around "having fun"? Nostalgia even existed back then as one characters moans that rock 'n' roll has been going downhill ever since Buddy Holly died in 1959. Other characters look for boyfriends or girlfriends or a good time. The need to be popular knows no decade.

"AG" unfolds during one night, starting and ending at Mel's Drive-In where girls in roller skates bring food to your car. The coming-of-age vignettes all have their moments, some comic, some touching. The scene where Howard and Williams slow dance to "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" always gets a tear in my eyes. My favorite scene, however, takes place when Le Mat takes Phillips on a stroll through a car graveyard. You wouldn't think that would be particularly romantic, but here it is.

As for the meaning of the title, I've read a few explanations: the film, like graffiti, marks a certain place for others to see with a message for others to contemplate. That works for me.

"AG" was nominated for five Academy Awards: best picture, best director, best screenplay, best editing and best supporting actress. It went O-5, getting stung by "The Sting." Clark lost out to Tatum O'Neal in "Paper Moon."

"AG" fared better at the box office where it has grossed more $200 million with home video sales included and merchandise not included. It was produced on a $775,000 budget. And it's not just me singing its praises. Other critics have lauded the film, including the later Roger Ebert. Also, in 1995, the U.S. Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

While the film was generally well-reviewed, some critics called the "snapshots" at the end detailing the fates of major characters tonally jarring. They sure bummed me out as I was the same age of the characters when I first saw the film. Yet who said coming-of-age movies had to be rosy? Graffiti typically serves as a jolt anyway, and America would certainly get a king-sized one after 1962.

For all its cinematic and cultural significance, "America Graffiti" can be enjoyed as pure entertainment, and you don't have to be familiar with 1962 to appreciate it. Simply put, a good story is timeless, and you can spray-paint that on a wall.

Daddy's home

It’s now time for TRIVIA.

Last month’s tester: From 1935 to 2002 (and likely beyond that year), three films accomplished something that no other films have accomplished. Name the films and the accomplishment. Clue: All three films were released in the same decade. Another clue: More has not been merrier.

Answer: "On the Waterfront" (1954), "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956) and "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957) were named Best Picture by all the award societies and groups. The final clue refers to the fact that over the years more awards groups have been formed making such unanimity of opinion more difficult.

No one answered the question correctly.

This month’s tester: Released 10 years apart, two movies based on stories written by a playwright and a novelist, respectively, featured domineering fathers with the same last name but no other connection. Name the films, the writers and the actors who played the fathers.

The first reader to answer the question correctly will receive a prize.

Trivia enthusiasts can call me at 508-626-4409 or email me at rtremblay@wickedlocal.com. Make sure you leave your name, address and phone number on my message machine or email so I can contact you if you answered the question correctly. The address is needed so winners can be mailed their prize. Callers should spell out their names slowly and clearly so their names will be spelled correctly in the column.